Chapter 33.5 – How We Got Together (Part 17)

Natalie’s side – The Morning After That Chaos

Next morning.
Alex’s house.
Living room.

The smell of toasted bread lingers from breakfast.
The sun shines gently through the window.

And me?

I’m standing over Alex with a storm cloud above my head.

💢😡💢💢

“So… I guess you really enjoy doing things your own way, huh?”

Alex, still stretching in his pajamas, blinks at me.

“Eh? Wait—I thought you were worried about Luna too?”

“Worried?!” I cross my arms and glare.

“This isn't Mission Impossible! Or Italian Job, Alex!”

I slap my forehead. What am I going to do with this idiot?

He tilts his head, confused.

“But… I was helping. You were taking care of Hana, so I just—”

I grab a pillow.
I whack him.

“Ow—hey!!”

“What were you planning then, smart guy?”

He scratches his cheek.
Shrugs.

“Uhh… well… I don’t know yet?”

And down he goes—

Dramatically collapsing onto the couch like one of those exaggerated anime reaction shots.

“So basically…” I sigh.
“You had zero plans, but a head start. Typical.”

“But I thought you'd be proud of me…” he mumbles like a kicked puppy.

“Hana was on your lap when I left! You were busy!”

I flick his forehead.

“Dumbass.”

He flinches.

“You’re just trying to do what adults do without knowing the full picture.”

I pause, lowering the pillow.
My voice softens.

Because the truth is…

When he left without telling me—

It hurt.

Even though it was reckless…
Even though it was so like him…

A part of me…
Still wanted to chase him down.

But I didn’t.

Because that same day—

I got a second letter from Luna.

She wrote in jagged pen strokes, rushed and messy:

‘Hey Nat,
I’m sorry for keeping quiet.
My family’s been in danger since we crossed the border.
Dino… he’s the reason we made it to the U.S.
Now the cartel’s after him.
They want to use me as leverage.’

‘Tell Alex I’m okay.
And don’t come looking for me.
I mean it.’

I clench the paper in my pocket.

“So… Alex…” I say aloud.

“This might be bigger than us.
Even if it kills me to say it—we can’t rush in blind.”

Alex opens one eye from the floor.
He nods lazily.

“Uh huh… makes sense…”

Then promptly…

Falls asleep.
Face-first.

“Eh?! Hey!”

I walk over, kneel, and look at his sleeping face.

This idiot…
Even when he’s trying to help—
He always carries everything alone.

I drag him to the bed like a sack of potatoes.

Hana, now fully awake, claps and giggles from her corner.

She crawls over and rests next to Alex, snuggling against him.

I sit at the edge of the bed, brushing my hair behind my ear.

“Honestly… you’ll be the death of me, Alex.”

But…

That’s why I’ll be the one to protect him, too.

Alex is still fast asleep, snoring lightly on the bed, one hand over his chest like some fallen anime knight who overdid it saving the kingdom.

Meanwhile—

I’m in the living room, giggling softly while playing with Hana.

She crawls around like a little turtle in pink onesies, occasionally stopping to look at me with those curious eyes.

It’s been months now…

Living under the same roof with Puan Mas and Alex.
This feeling—

It isn’t just comfort.

It’s home.

Except…
Much, much closer than anything I ever imagined.

Suddenly—

Knock knock.

I freeze.

It’s soft at first…
But then—

Knock. Knock. KNOCK.

Much louder now.

I quickly recall Puan Mas’s advice.

“If there’s ever a stranger outside, use the window panel near the shoe rack. I had it built special so you don’t get caught off-guard.”

I tiptoe to the panel and slide it open.

Peeking through—

Wan.

And two of his usual goons.

But there’s… someone else with them.

He doesn’t look familiar.
Dark shades.
Hands in his pocket.

Something about this feels off.

I don’t open the door.

I stay silent.

Hana, who had been humming baby babble moments ago, suddenly stops.

She stares at the window, her tiny body tense.
I gently hold her close.

But then—thankfully—

“HEY!!! WAN!!!”

A familiar voice echoes from the street.

It’s Marina.

I peek again and see her power-walking down the sidewalk, arms swinging like she’s ready to start a fight.

Right beside her is Faiz, laid-back but clearly annoyed.

“Aren’t you supposed to be somewhere else, Wan?” Marina shouts.

“And don’t you dare wake up Alex’s little sister! Do you know how hard it is to put a baby to sleep? No? Then move along!”

Her words are like rapid-fire arrows.
Wan looks stunned.

“We just want to talk to Alex. It’s important.”

“Important? Oh sure,” Marina rolls her eyes.
“This isn’t Kelantan, okay? You can’t act like you're the village chief around here.”

Faiz steps in calmly but firmly.

“Bro, just take a walk. Or I’m calling the elders. Don’t test it.”

Wan mutters something, but eventually, they all turn and walk off.

Marina calls out, “Nat! Coast is clear!”

I unlock the door and let them in.

Now inside, the three of us sit together while Hana plays on a mat with her rattle.

Marina, with her slightly curly brown bob, tall frame, and bold energy, surveys the place with a mischievous grin.

“Wow, Nat… you sure this isn’t your actual house now?”

She elbows me with a teasing smirk.

😵‍💫 “Stop it! I’m not even in a relationship with Alex!!”

Smack!

She playfully slaps my back.

“Girl, if you’re sleeping under the same roof, looking after his baby sister, and fighting over gang cases together—that’s a relationship. Don’t lie to me!”

Faiz chuckles, arms crossed.
“So, where’s the boy genius?”

I point toward the hallway.

“Passed out like a log. Probably dreaming about sandwiches or aliens or something.”

Faiz pinches the bridge of his nose.

“Man’s got two gears—fight mode or nap mode.”

Marina leans back, sighing.

“Still… it’s cool being around him. Like, no pressure. He’s so… simple-minded.”

We all laugh at that.
Because it’s true.

But deep down…

I know it’s more than that.

Because even in this silly, chaotic, embarrassing little life…

Alex makes me feel safe.
And I’ll protect that no matter what.

The kettle whistles softly as I pour the water into mismatched mugs.
Three cups. One for Marina. One for Faiz. One for me.

And another I leave aside…

Just in case a certain sleepyhead decides to rise from the dead.

I set a tray on the coffee table—green tea, warm, with steam still curling from the surface.
Some homemade peanut butter crackers, a few leftover butter cookies from Puan Mas' cookie jar, and sliced apples for Hana (who, by the way, is trying to eat a coaster right now).

Marina is lying belly-down on the carpet, face-to-face with Hana, who’s giggling and throwing plushies at her.
Faiz is lounging sideways on the sofa, flipping through Alex’s sketchpad like it’s a detective file.

And me?

I’m the host now.
Making tea.

Like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

“Jeez, Nat…” Marina says with a grin.
“You’re totally giving off wife material energy right now.”

Me – 😳

“Shut up…” I turn away quickly, pouring tea with a little too much force.

“Oooh~” Marina teases, voice dripping with amusement.
“That reaction says it all~.”

Faiz sips his tea and smirks.
“Honestly? You two living like this feels weirdly balanced.”

I glare.
“Keep talking and I’ll spill this tea on your jeans.”

Marina’s laughter echoes as she tosses a plush bunny toward me.

It’s calm.
Too calm.

Which means—

Cue the dragon awakening.

“Huuaaaah… Huh…?”

A half-asleep Alex shuffles down the hallway, eyes half-lidded, hair messed up like he just went ten rounds with gravity.

“Don’t ‘huh’ me! Hurry up, I made tea!” I snap at him with my hands on my hips.

He blinks.

“Tea…?”

“Yes, tea. With snacks. You better appreciate it.”

Alex grumbles but walks over, plopping onto the floor beside Hana.

She instantly lights up.

“GAH—HANA—MY FACE—!”

She smacks him with a squeaky toy, which makes a squeak that’s way too loud.

Marina clutches her stomach from laughing.

“She’s got good taste,” Marina says, giving Hana a high five.
“She knows a sleepy freeloader when she sees one.”

Alex finally comes to, rubbing his cheek and sipping his tea.

“…Tastes like guilt.”

“Because it is.” I fire back without missing a beat.

Faiz stretches and throws an arm behind the sofa.

“Honestly, I wish every school break was like this. Snacks, Hana, jokes, and watching you two act like an old married couple.”

“We're not married!!!” I blurt.

Marina – 😈
“But would you say no if he asked~?”

“ALEX! CHOKE ON SOMETHING RIGHT NOW!”

“HUH!? I didn’t even say anything yet!!”

But as everyone laughs, and Hana snuggles into Alex’s lap while he gently pats her head...

I watch quietly from across the table.

Alex’s side –

Late Afternoon, Living Room

The vibe is chill.

Sunlight cuts through the curtains.
The air smells like green tea and roasted peanuts.
Hana’s asleep again in her fluffy blanket fort, Faiz and Marina are lounging like they own the house, and Natalie—

Natalie’s wiping the edge of a cup like she runs a five-star tea house.

Suddenly—

Click.
The front door creaks open.

“Ugh... what a day—”

It’s Mom.

She stands frozen at the entrance.
Eyes wide.
Bags under her lids from grading midterms and wrangling uni kids.
She looks around the living room.

At the neatly arranged cups.

At the cleaned-up mess.

At Natalie in an apron holding a serving tray.

“Wow... is this... a dream...?”
Mom rubs her eyes dramatically like she’s in a shoujo manga.

“Am I already in the afterlife? Did I die grading papers?”

I lean back on the couch, arms crossed.

“Yeah, you’re dreaming, Mom. Go to bed, already.”

WHACK!

“OW—HEY!” I shout, turning just in time for Natalie’s foot to land expertly on my shin.

“Is that how you greet your own mother, you moron?!”

Mom clutches her heart like she’s watching a romance drama.

“Uuuu... Nat is... uuu... so caring... so responsible... so WIFE MATERIAL~”
She fans herself, her glasses slipping down her nose.

Natalie – 😅
Me – 😐

“What the heck are you looking at!?”

“Nothing!” I squeak back.

But before I can blink—

TWIST! PINCH!

Natalie grabs the side of my waist like she’s twisting a joystick.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGHH!!!”

I flail like a ragdoll.

YUP. I FLEW.

Faiz and Marina are on the floor laughing.
Mom’s wiping tears of joy from her eyes.
Hana sleep-grumbles like a grumpy bunny in her sleep.

Natalie crosses her arms, smug.

“That’s what you get for being disrespectful.”

“This house isn’t yours, Nat...” I mumble from the floor.

She flips her hair.

“I live here now. I pay rent with discipline.”

Mom steps in, setting her handbag down.

She ruffles my hair while stepping over my wounded pride.

“Honestly, Alex... you better lock this girl down before someone else does.”

“HUUUUHHHHHH!?!?!”
Me and Natalie, in perfect sync.

“Kyaaaaah~”
Marina squeals.
Faiz just sips his tea like he’s seen it all before.

But deep down…

Even as I rub my pinched side and pretend to sulk—

I feel something.

Warmth.

Like… this isn’t just my house anymore.

It’s ours.

We’re still in the living room.
The light’s gone soft.
The golden hour kind.
Hana’s still asleep beside a pile of plushies. Faiz and Marina are lounging like cats on the couch. Natalie’s refilling everyone’s tea.

Just a slow, quiet moment.

Until—

“Alex,” Mom suddenly speaks up from the kitchen doorway, her voice calm but loaded.

I look up.

She wipes her hands with a dish towel and gives me that I’m-about-to-drop-news expression.

“I spoke with Mr. Hawk—Natalie’s father.”

My heart skips.
She never brings him up unless something’s serious.

“We were talking about your friend… Luna.”
Mom walks in and sits beside Faiz.

“Apparently, her mother met with Mr. Hawk recently and explained the situation.”

I straighten.
Natalie nearly drops her teacup.

“Wait—what?”

“Luna’s mom spoke to my dad!?” Nat blurts, grabbing my arm tight.

Her voice is shaking—not from fear.

But from hope.

The tiniest flicker of it.

“See? SEE!? I told you she’s okay!!”

She turns to me, wide-eyed, lips trembling like she’s holding in ten different emotions at once.

Marina and Faiz – 😏

They give me a look.

The kind that says, “Your girl was right. You owe her.”

Present Day – Alex Narrating

When I look back at that moment…

At Natalie’s hands wrapped around my arm like it was the last lifeline in the world…

At the soft evening light around her…

At the glint in her eyes...

I remember something:

Faiz and Marina.

They were the first.

Before Amin. Before Mariam. Before all the chaos.

They were the ones who sat beside me in silence when my life was loud.

The ones who never asked too much, but always showed up.

And somehow...

They were also the reason I stayed grounded long enough…
to meet her.

Natalie.

Present Day – Natalie Narrating

Inside…

I cried.

Not out loud.

Not in front of them.

But in my chest… in that place that never really healed.

Because deep down…

We were so lucky.

To have each other.

To have a place like this.
A life like this.

I hold onto his sleeve a little tighter.

And I think—

“I hope they’re safe.
I hope they’re together.”

But I can’t say it.

Even Alex… doesn’t say it.

Because there are some truths we keep quiet.

So they don’t hurt more than they already do.

The truth about Luna.
The fear about losing her.
The weight we carry.

But for now—

We sit in this living room…
surrounded by friends, by fading light, by soft laughter…

And for just a moment—

We let ourselves believe everything’s going to be okay.

Natalie’s Side –

Late Afternoon, Alex’s House

This is so embarrassing.

So so embarrassing.

Alex is sitting like an idiot at the table, sipping tea like he’s got no idea what’s going on.
And now—

Now his mom is here, chatting with mine like they’ve known each other for years.

But that’s not what’s driving me crazy.

It's what I just thought.

“Mom said—”

Wait.

What.

DID I JUST CALL HER MOM!?

😖 EEEEEKKKKK!!! 😖

My brain short circuits.
My heart slams against my ribs like I’m in the middle of a taekwondo match.
I’m not even married to Alex!! Why the heck am I thinking like that!?

Suddenly—

“Nat? You okay?” his mom—I mean Alex’s mom—calls from the kitchen.

“UH—I’M GOOD, MOM!!”
!!!

😱😱😱

DID I JUST SAY IT OUT LOUD?!

Marina turns her head, slow and dramatic like in a soap opera.

😏 “Oooooo… What did you just call her?”

Meanwhile, Alex’s mom lifts her hands to the sky like she’s doing a du’a.
Her voice is dramatic, filled with grateful agony.

“Ya Allah… thank You for blessing me with such wonderful gifts… Especially my stupid son.”

Alex: 😶 “Huh? What the heck did I do now?”

I whip my head away, cheeks burning red like they’re about to explode.

Why does he have to look at me like that?!
That clueless, concerned, annoyingly gentle look that just—

Melts me.

He leans closer, eyes narrowing with that soft, worried face of his.

“Hey… are you getting a fever again?”

OH NO.

THAT LOOK.

THAT LOOK.

THE ONE THAT MAKES MY BRAIN SHUT DOWN AND MY HEART GO INTO HYPERDRIVE—
That stupid, sincere, you-mean-the-world-to-me kind of look!

My hand moves on its own.

SLAP!!!

Alex: 😵 “GUAH!! WHAT WAS THAT FOR?!”

Faiz: 🤨 “Wait—what just happened?”

Marina and Alex’s mom: 😂 BURSTS OUT LAUGHING

I cross my arms, nose turned up, trying to hide my glowing red face.

“Th-that’s for being stupid! You—you dumbass!!”

Alex rubs his cheek, still completely confused.

“Okay… I literally did nothing wrong.”

Natalie (internally):
Why is he so… dumb.
But why is my heart beating this fast…
Stop it…
Stop it heart!!

Ehhhkkk—he’s looking at me again!!

We sit around the table, the aroma of hot tea filling the room. Hana is happily munching on some kuih I made earlier. Alex is just—being Alex, lounging like he’s already done saving the world.

The mood feels too peaceful… which makes what I’m about to say even more jarring.

“Hey… Wan was looking for you.”
I sip my tea and watch his face for a reaction.
“Something about… Muslim stuff.”

Alex freezes mid-sip.

He glances out the window like the name just summoned a demon.

Then—

“Huh? Let me guess… Nope. I don’t care.”

He places the cup down and leans back.

“Since you all are here… why should I care about that freak show circus?”

I glance at Faiz.
His expression darkens slightly.

“But that guy… again… Ustaz Sharil was with them, right?”

The moment I say that name, Faiz tenses.
Marina’s smile fades.

I blink.
There it is again—that undercurrent in this group.
There’s something they haven’t told me. Something deep. Something heavy.

I lean in.

“Faiz… I want to know. What really happened before?”

Alex is still laughing with Hana, completely in his own world.
Marina and Faiz share a look.

Without a word, they both gesture me to follow.

We step into the hallway.

The quiet buzz of the kitchen fades behind us.

Faiz speaks first, his voice low and serious:

“Well… this house is the safest place to talk about it.”

Marina adds, arms crossed:

“Yeah. It's not something we can just say out loud in front of others.”

I feel my chest tighten.

“So? What’s the story?”

Faiz glances at the door before speaking again.

“Elder Muzaffar… he tried to fix it on his own. But things spiraled.”

“He couldn’t handle it anymore,” Marina picks up.
“So… he had to ask for assistance. From Malaysian authorities.”

My blood runs cold.

“Wait… authorities? What exactly are we dealing with?”

Faiz closes his eyes.

“It’s not just about Wan and his goons…”
“It’s what they’re being taught.”

Marina:
“We suspected something for a while. At first it looked like just… strict religious stuff. Then it got weird. Dangerous weird.”

I clench my fists.

“So… what’s this got to do with Alex?”

They both go silent.

Faiz gives a long exhale, then looks me dead in the eye.

“First impression.”

“Huh?” I blink. “First impression?”

Marina nods.

“The first time Wan and Ustaz Sharil saw Alex… they knew he wouldn’t fit their mold.”

“And worse…” Faiz continues,
“…Alex questioned them. Out loud. In front of everyone.”

My breath catches.

Of course he did. That’s so like him.

Faiz:
“they thought that they could take Alex as their part but…now you see”

Marina adds softly,

“While no one is handling it….Alex take it like a boss”

I lean back against the wall, everything sinking in like a slow storm cloud.

Alex… he never told me this.

And now… I finally understand that shadow behind his jokes, that occasional silence when Wan’s name is brought up. That faint look in his eyes—like he’s ready for a fight he never wanted.

“So that’s why he avoids all of it now,” I murmur.

“Exactly,” Marina says.
“And that's why we’ve been watching his back ever since.”

We glance back toward the living room, where Alex is tickling Hana, her giggles bouncing through the air like music.

So carefree.
So oblivious.

Yet I now know...

There’s so much more under that quiet, sharp-eyed boy.

“So… if Alex actually goes to that meeting again…”
My voice wavers.
I can’t even finish the thought.

Faiz nods grimly.
“Yeah… it’s all over again. Same cycle. Same venom. Same trap.”

Marina crosses her arms.
“That place is poison, and those people don’t want peace. They want control.”

Suddenly—
Alex walks in. Calm. Deadpan. And casually says:

“Hey. I changed my mind. I’m going.”

The three of us collectively explode—

“HUHHHHH!?” 😱
“EEEHHHH!?” 😵
“ALEX WHAT THE HELL!?”

He doesn’t even flinch.
Just grabs his hoodie and walks right out the door like he’s going for a morning jog.

Alex’s mom steps in behind us, sipping her coffee like nothing’s wrong.

“Oh, don’t worry. I’ll leave it to Alex.”
She chuckles softly.
“Sometimes… my son just needs to let loose. He doesn’t say much, but when he acts—don’t underestimate him.”

Me, Faiz, and Marina: 😅😳😨
Well that’s reassuring. Not.

But I can’t shake it off.

My heart is pounding.

My palms feel cold.

Why… am I so worried?

Is it because I know how Alex fights?
Is it because I know how they provoke him?
Is it because—because…

I care about him more than I want to admit?

“Ahh!!” I slap my cheeks gently, trying to shake off my thoughts.

Alex’s mom giggles behind me.

“He’s a hard-headed boy. Never listens. But Marina told him everything, didn’t she?”

Wait…

I freeze.

“Don’t tell me—”

She smiles knowingly.

“He’s angry now.”

Outside, At the Empty Lot Where the Meeting Happens

“HEY NAT!!”
“YO!! NAT!!”

I hear Faiz and Marina’s voices behind me as we run.

What greets us…

Is carnage.

“YOU DAMN MORONS!!!”
Alex’s voice roars like thunder across the lot.

“IF YOU WANT TO TALK TO ME—WAIT UNTIL MY MOM’S HOME!!”

BOOM!!
His fist CRACKS into one of the teens' jaw.

“YOU DON’T GET TO CORNER ME IN MY OWN NEIGHBORHOOD!!!”

Another one lunges at him with a flying kick—looks older, stronger.

“Hyaa—!”

Alex dodges and—
BITE!!!

“AAAAARGH!! YOU ANIMAL!!!”

Then he does the unthinkable.

“NOOOOOO—”

He lifts the guy over his shoulder and—

SUUUUPLEX!!!!!!!

BAAMMMM!!!

Dirt and dust EXPLODE off the ground.

KO!!! 💥

I stand there frozen, jaw on the floor.
Marina and Faiz just gulp.

“Nat…” Marina whispers.
“Yeah?”

“Please stay with Alex. Please. For the love of God. We don’t know what else he’s capable of.”

We both look at the scene.

Alex is now standing alone in the middle of a circle of unconscious teens.
Breathing heavily.
Scratches on his face.
A glare in his eyes that could stop time itself.

And then—he sees me.

That glare fades… slowly…
And he gives me that awkward, clueless shrug.

“Uh… hey?”

My heart just melts and explodes at the same time.

You dumb beast.

Dust still hangs in the air.
Footsteps shuffle nervously.
Moans from the defeated boys echo faintly.

Alex stands tall, fists clenched, breathing steady… but eyes sharp like a cornered wolf.

Across from him—Wan, bruised and shaken, trying to hide his fear behind a mask of pride.

Alex slowly walks toward him.
Each step deliberate.
Each word measured.

“Hey… Wan.”
Alex’s voice cuts like ice.

“Next time—don’t be an ass.”
His tone never wavers.
“The reason I keep my temper in school… is so people like you don’t become an embarrassment.”

Wan flinches.

But someone else steps forward—tall, robed in religious attire, with the confidence of a man who believes himself untouchable.

Ustaz Sharil.

“So this is the boy who throws fists instead of seeking peace…”
His voice is calm, but heavy with judgment.
“We’re only trying to help others understand Islam. Isn’t that what you want too?”

Alex tilts his head, unimpressed.

“Then make it official… like it’s supposed to be.”
He clenches his jaw, eyes narrowing.

“Make it Islam—not intimidation.”

Sharil scoffs.
“You speak of the Prophet, but you act like a stray mutt.”

Alex doesn’t back down.

“The Prophet taught through compassion, not coercion.”
His voice rises, unwavering.

“You preach about understanding Islam—then understand this: half of my family are Christian. The rest? Animists, free-thinkers, even atheists.”

He points at his own heart.

“But never once have I seen faith delivered through violence. You think that’s da’wah? No. That’s bullying dressed in robes.”

Gasps echo around them.

Ustaz Sharil’s face darkens.
“That’s blasphemy!! You’re nothing like a true Muslim!”

Alex roars—

“AND ONLY ALLAH CAN JUDGE THAT!!!”

A wave of silence crashes over everyone.

Not even the wind dares to speak.

His words echo like thunder down the street.

The tension wraps around the gathering like a tight noose… until someone finally exhales.

Marina whispers under her breath, both awe-struck and pale:

“That boy just… shouted that to an Ustaz…”

Narration – Natalie’s Perspective

From the corner, I’m gripping my chest, unable to look away.

Alex…
That boy with scars, fists, and that defiant glare…

He’s not just fighting people—he’s fighting dogma.
He's not just standing for himself—he's standing for us.

Even Faiz mutters:

“God, give him strength… this is more than fists now.”

Alex turns around, brushing dust off his shirt.

And just before he walks away—

He looks over his shoulder at Sharil and says with haunting calm:

“Next time… come with wisdom. Not wolves.”

Alex walks away from the chaotic scene.
Dust still clings to his sleeves, the knuckles of his right hand bruised.

But his eyes... they’re calm now.
Not because the storm is over—but because he walked through it.

Just then, a deep and aged voice calls out behind him—

“Boy.”

Alex pauses.

From the crowd steps Elder Muzaffar—one of the most respected figures in the community.
A man with wisdom carved into the lines of his face and truth echoing in every word he speaks.

His cane taps the ground as he steps between Alex and the silent Ustaz Sharil.

“Even a boy... could speak to you with more hikmah than those who preach on pulpits.”
His eyes narrow toward Sharil.
“Now tell me, child—how did you come to know so much of Islam?”

Alex turns, breathing slow.
He bows respectfully, then looks up.

“Not all of it, sir... but I learned from the ones who lived it.”

“My uncle Usman… my dad’s side—they’re descendants of Islam. My Ustazah at school who taught us through stories, not scoldings. And my mom…”

He clutches his chest.

“My mom—she always told me: ‘Learn the world’s faiths before you judge them. If you don’t, then you’re no better than those who scream without knowing who they scream at.’”

He looks directly at Sharil now.

“She always warned me… about this kind of zealous fanaticism.”
His voice trembles—not from fear, but from memory.
“That kind of blind fire—it leads to arrogance, then hatred… then shirk.”

I blink.
My hand covers my lips as my heart skips.

Alex… you… you knew all this?

Even Faiz looks shaken.

“I knew he had guts,” Faiz mutters, “but this… this is something else.”

Elder Muzaffar lets out a heavy sigh, tapping his cane once.

“Sharil… do you see it now?”
He gestures toward Alex.
“I have tried to remind you how the Prophet led—with mercy and with example. This boy—he did not raise his voice until he was pushed. But when he did… it held more truth than your sermons.”

Sharil clenches his jaw but remains silent.

Elder Muzaffar turns to Alex.

“Boy. Keep that fire. But balance it with sabr. One day… people may need you.”

Alex nods.

“Yes, sir.”

Narration – Natalie’s Thoughts

My hands tremble.

That boy…
The one I thought was just reckless…

He holds so much more inside.

Maybe that’s why I’m drawn to him…
Not just because he protects me…
But because he carries the weight of his people, his mother, and his beliefs...

All in silence.

Until someone threatens it.

He finally walks toward me, blood on his shirt, dust on his arms.

But his expression softens when he sees me.

“Nat… sorry. You okay?”

I run toward him.
I don’t say a word.
I just grab his hand.

Tightly.

“You idiot…”
My voice cracks.
“What if they hurt you!?”

He laughs softly, wincing.

“I’d rather they try hurting me… than hurt the people I care about.”

He glances at Faiz, Marina… then to me.

His hand trembles—but never lets go of mine.

Suddenly…
A familiar voice breaks through the murmurs.

Footsteps soft—yet her presence commands the air.

Alex’s mother steps forward.

Her gaze? Calm… but sharper than a blade.

“Mr. Sharil…” she speaks, tone like iron wrapped in silk,
“This… way of preaching. These methods. May I ask—who taught you?”

Sharil stiffens.
His lips tremble, but he doesn’t answer.

Silence falls.
All eyes turn to her.

Then she places a hand over her chest.

“My husband…” she begins,
“…is a descendant of Shariful Ahmad.”

Gasps ripple through the crowd like lightning across water.
Even Elder Muzaffar’s eyes widen.
Sharil staggers backward—his face pale.

“S-Shariful Ahmad…!”
He barely utters the name.
“The man who led the great Imamate families from Mindanao to Nusantara—Malaysia, Indonesia—during the 1700s…”

Elder Muzaffar murmurs reverently,
“A man both feared and respected… known for uniting the ummah without sword nor crown.”

Alex’s mother simply nods.
“Yes. That is the legacy… my husband carries.”

She looks at Alex then, her eyes warm with memory.
“But he never used it to rule… He used it to teach.”

“And Alex… he was raised with that same fire. That same restraint.”
She turns to Sharil again.

“That’s why my son can speak with the clarity he does… not out of rebellion, but remembrance.”

Sharil’s hands begin to shake.
“This… this is madness. A child—!”
His voice cracks.

Alex, silent the whole time, just watches.

Sharil suddenly turns—panic overtaking pride—and runs.

“Sharil!” Wan calls out, ready to chase—
But before he takes a step, Elder Muzaffar grabs his arm with surprising strength.

“Stop.”
Muzaffar’s voice is calm, but carries the weight of centuries.

“You need to listen, son.”
He looks deeply into Wan’s conflicted face.

“Ask yourself this… If Alex had knowledge but no sincerity—would he still speak so boldly?”

Wan falters.

“…Why isn’t he afraid?”
His voice breaks.
“Why isn’t he afraid like the rest of us?”

Elder Muzaffar gently pulls Wan back toward the center.

Toward his own father, who stands at the edge—silent, unsure, old eyes trying to understand the son who drifted too far.

Natalie’s Narration – Inner Voice

I stare… frozen.

This isn’t like anything I’ve read.
Not in my books.
Not in class.

This… this is real.

A confrontation of faith, legacy, and truth—unfolding before my eyes.

Alex…
That boy…
That same idiot who falls asleep at odd hours and never does his laundry right…

He stood in front of a crowd—of men twice his age and more.

And shook their beliefs.

Not with force.

But with truth.

And that’s when it hits me.

He’s more than my other half.

He’s the fire that breaks falsehood.

I grip my sleeves tightly.

My heart races.

He doesn’t even realize…
That he’s changing people just by being himself.

And I…

I don’t want him to ever carry that weight alone.

I glance at him, his face half-lit by the golden afternoon sun, a shadow of hesitation behind that usual smirk.

“Hey, Alex…” I say softly.

He looks at me, eyes flicking over for a second too long. “Huh? Yeah… that's nothing.” 😁

I squint at him, crossing my arms.

Liar.

He’s hiding something again. That classic half-smile is always his tell.

Before I can press further, his mom suddenly appears behind us like a ninja, arms crossed, grinning like she’s just uncovered the truth of the universe.

“See?” she says proudly. “Told ya. Alex is well-trained.”

Her tone is warm, but her words carry weight. There’s a reason he’s always three steps ahead, even when pretending to be clueless.

We begin walking back, the quiet hum of insects filling the late-day silence. Just when I think the conversation is over, Alex suddenly speaks, his voice lower, more serious.

“…About Luna,” he says, glancing at the sky. “Let’s wait. I believe there’s a reason for all of this. There has to be.”

His tone is filled with conviction, but I can hear the pain hidden beneath it.

“…Yeah,” I nod, my heart heavy. "I know."

Luna…

Even now, her name sits like a stone in my chest. She was once everything.

The only friend I ever truly had… until now.

But that’s the past.

Now—

“Marina and Faiz…” I whisper to myself. “They’re my new good friends. The kind I never thought I’d have.”

We may be just starting out, but their presence—warm, chaotic, genuine—fills a part of me I didn’t realize was empty.

And then suddenly—

“Oi!” Alex snaps, his hand grabbing mine like a kid dragging his best friend to ditch class. “I’m bored. Come on!!”

“W-Wait, what?!” I stumble forward as he yanks me down the path.

His laughter echoes through the air, wild and free.

I try to keep my cool, but a smile breaks across my face.

We run forward—towards whatever comes next.

Even if Luna is still left in the shadows, tangled in regrets and unfinished words, even if the mystery of the past still lingers...

Our adventure begins now.

This time... with real friends beside me.

To be continued.